Corset-clamp



(No Model.) P. J. MENAH-AN.

' CORSET CLAMP.

Patented Jan. 18 1898.

INVENTUR 1s Pucks no. wmoumc PATENT PATRICK J. MENAHAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CORSET-CLAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,685, dated January 18, 1898.

Application filed March 2, 1897. Serial No. 625 ,74'7. (No model.)

To a-ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. MENAHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Corset-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for clamping corsets on the heated forms to hold them thereon while acquiring the desired shape.

Ordinarily corsets receive their final shape and finish by being moistened and adjusted on. a suitable form or model properly heated, the corset-sections being secured together at their front by the engagement of the regular fastening, while the connection at the rear is efiected by some special clamping provision which engages the usual rear lacing-eyelets. A simple form of clamp consists of two Vertical steel members, each of which has a fabric sheathing and is provided with a series of outwardly-bent hooks, these members being designed to be applied on the inner side of the corset-sections contiguous to the rear edge portions thereof, so that the hooks will pr0-' 'j'ect through the eyelets in two vertical series extending in opposite directions, a lacingcord being used to engage the hooks to draw the corset intimately on the form with a somewhat yielding tension. With this arrangement it will be appreciated that the lacingcord lies in contact with the outer material of the corset adjacent to the rear edge portions,thus occasionin g a mussed or unfinished effect in the article upon completion of the shaping operation. Consequently before the corset is considered finished these edge portions have to be ironed by hand to smooth them. This takes time, adds to the expense of producing the article, and does not result in a perfect finish at the rear edge portions.

My improvement, while constituting a simple and eificient corset-clamp, embodies provision whereby the outer fabric of the rear edge portions will acquire a smooth finish coincident with the shaping of the corset on the form.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure 1 is a rear view of a shapingform having a corset held in adjustment thereon by my improved clamp. Fig. 2 is a fragedge of the corset, as shown in Fig. 2.

mentary view of one of the rear edge portions of a corset on a larger scale, parts being broken away to indicate the relation of the rear clamp member and facing-section with respectto said edge portion. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the clamp members, having part of its sheathing broken away. Fig. at is a corresponding view of one of the facing-sections; and Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are transverse sections through the parts represented in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and looking in the direction of the arrows in said figures.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear.

The clamp membersv proper each consist of a vertical narrow and thin strip A, of steel, to which is riveted a series of hooks a, which are relatively spaced to permit them to pass through a number of the eyelets in the rear Each strip A has a thin sheathing A, of fabric, preferably stitched along the line a to snugly contain the said strip, suitable openings being made at the front of the sheathing for the passage of the hooks. When the members are applied at the inner side of the corset contiguous to the rear edges thereof, so that the hooks extend through rear eyelets of the corset, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, a perforated facingsection can be applied on the front of each edge portion to lie parallel therewith and with the clamp member behind, the hooks a extending through suitable openings therein.

Each facing-section consists of a thin vertical strip B, of metal, somewhat wider than the strip A, and having a series of openings b, coinciding in number and location with the hooks a. This strip B has a fabric covering B, of thin material, as shown, stitched along the line b to snugly contain the strip B and having openings both in its front and back thicknesses registering with those in the strip, both openings being somewhat larger in diameter than the diameters of the hooks, to facilitate the ready engagement of the latter.

With the hooks a projecting through both rear edge portions G of the corset, the facingfacing-sections, thus permitting a lacing-cord D to be passed around the hooks and fastened to secure the edge portions of the corset together, exert the required tension on the corset, and firmly clamp the said edge portions between the members at the inner side and the facing-sections at the front.

The fiat character of the several members and facing-sections, the pressure exerted by the lacing-cord, and the heat imparted by the form serve to set the fabric of the corset at the edge portions in a smooth and finished manner during the shaping of the rest of the corset.

By covering the strips A and B with thin I 7 is finished and ready for packing and shipment.

I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, as it will be manifest that the improved clamp is susceptible to considerable alteration or change and yet be Within the scope of my invention.

In lieu of the fabric sheathings and coverings I may provide the strips A and B or either of them With a facing of enamel or other smooth surface not affected by the moderately-high heat employed.

The clamp members A may be permanently connected with the form at the rear and be adapted to engage the rear edge portions of the corset to stretch the latter on the form and clamp said portions with the required degree of pressure, or the members and sections, While separate from the form, may have a permanent yielding connection at either or both ends..

I claim as my invention-- In a clamp for securing corsets on forms for shaping and finishing them, the combination with inner flat members A, having forwardly-projecting hooks a, facing-sections B, perforated for the passage of the hooks, said members and sections being adapted to conjointly receive and retain between them the rear edge portions of a corset, and of a cord D, for engaging said hooks to coincidently exert a tension on both members to draw the parts together and also exert a pressure on the sections and on the edge portions of the corset to efiect, both the smoothing of the same and the stretching of the corset,substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK J. MENAI-IAN.

Witnesses:

JAMEs GASOOINS, H. BERNARD 000mm. 

